Sports : life magnified

Andre Agassi is organising an effort to keep the 5 Bjorg Wimbledon trophies in the sport. I hope the move is successful.

More than 150 Indian Bloggers have joined The Blank Noise Project to highlight the harassment of women on Indian streets. Why should any one have to bear indignity because of the gender?

I have had my women friends speak on harassment, leering they have to go through. Not being a woman, I am not the right person to speak from personal experience on the issue. Only a woman can truly express how she feels on the issue.

I am all for equality though and in that vein, am strongly behind the intentions of the cause. I would like to highlight on the state of equality in sport in general taking this opportunity. Most sports have a far less following for the women’s game compared to the men’s game. Tennis, athletics apart how many games can you think of where you can recount names of women sports people? Do they try less or are the games less interesting to watch?

Why is there hardly a following for Women’s football, cricket, basketball, et all? Apart from the lack of general interest of people, the participation of women is also far behind because of society at large. Indian, Pakistani women are discouraged to play in the sun as it is apparently going to cause their skin to become darker, hence ugly. People don’t want to marry dark women. White skin is supposedly more beautiful. India does not have the WNBA but the Women’s Railways Basketball team has just as dedicated and sincere players.

Most of those who do manage to play the game have to retire way before they reach their prime. Pressure from parents and society to marry is too much to resist beyond a point. These problems are specifically worse in the subcontinent. When sports people sacrifice marriage, kids in many countries, in the subcontinent such bold decisions are looked down upon rather than being applauded.

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Nadia Petrova denied Amelie Mauresmo a number 1 spot. She will have to wait another week. I wasn’t expecting it. Good on you Petrova.

Meanwhile Rafael Nadal defeats Federer one more time. He now has a 3-1 record versus Federer. Perfect come back for Nadal. First defeat for Federer in the year and a build up to a possible long term rivalry for men’s tennis. The clay season with the climax at Roland Garros will certainly be engrossing.

Bjorn Borg will sell, among other tennis memorablia, his 5 Wimbledon Trophies for financial security. Pains me immensely that his financial ventures didn’t succeed.

Meanwhile Federer and Nadal are to face each other for the first time since French Open 2005. Federer is unbeaten this year. Nadal is on a come back trial ahead of the French Open. A superb build up to a match.

Martina Hingis crashed to a 2-6, 2-6 loss against Amelie Mauresmo. Hingis’ tryst with destiny part 2 isn’t looking great. She is still new in her come back but she better start winning a few titles sooner rather than later. At least she is enjoying her self on court which is good to see. A sharp contrast to the too serious Hingis. I will write in detail on Hingis some time next week hopefully.

Meanwhile Mauresmo is one match away from reclaiming the number 1 spot. She certainly is proving the most dominant women’s player this year, already having won her first grand slam in the Australian Open in January, and not many reckon Nadia Petrova has a chance in the Doha Open final.

Pete Sampras was called the tennis kid when he went to college. All he used to do was play tennis. His focus, dedication is unmatched. He would even hide pains/minor cramps he used to suffer during a match because according to him it showed weakness to his opponent. He used to hide emotion so well that John McEnroe even complained about it.

How much time does it take Pete Sampras to get bored of life without tennis? A little more than three years. He downplays his contract to play World Team Tennis, requests not to call it a come back and says:

This is more about just getting myself a little busier and focused on something I used to be good at.

Sampras is also scheduled to play an exhibition match in Houston apart from the WTT matches. He is undecided regarding the future but we may well see him in a commentary role. Sampras says that this is completely different from playing professionally:

But to play at the level I used to play is a whole other animal. I’ve done that, and I know what it takes. Me playing a little tennis this year is something I can control; there isn’t any pressure. I can relax and have a little fun. Coming back is not something that crossed my mind.

It is unlikely that Sampras will make an ATP Tour comeback. A come back would mean a dedication, committment and high level of sacrifice. Add to that getting into top physical and game condition. Add to that putting more effort than ever before because at 34 his body isn’t getting younger.

Also, why would Sampras, who has achieved almost every thing the game has to offer (barring the French Open and I don’t think he would target that if he came back) want to return? If Sampras does make an unlikely return because of his unquenchable desire for the game, I am sure he would do it only if he thinks he can match the best. That would mean another competitive match between Sampras and Federer. A mouth watering prospect but unlikely.

I would be happy to listen to him commentate on the game. He has given so many moments of pleasure to his fans. It would be selfish to ask for more. Any match Sampras plays now (like he will at WTT) is an unexpected bonus treat.

That is what John McEnroe said after he showed an extreme level of fitness to reach the semis of the ATP doubles tournament at San Jose with Jonas Bjorkman.

I first watched McEnroe live on TV at Wimbledon last year when he partnered Fleming (once again!) and featured in Nadal pants (or whatever they are called). I was amazed at the agility, placement and most importantly fitness McEnroe displayed.

Vijay Amritraj said then on TV that McEnroe took his fitness extremely seriously. He played regularly in the US and near his house. Watching McEnroe play is a privelege in itself and I understand, if only slightly, why sports from the past era have such reverence for the man because I have seen him play live.

And if you are wondering, McEnroe did scream at the umpire in his most recent match.

Update - McEnroe has won the doubles title as CNN reports.

The Williams-Sharapova Wimbledon match last year had a large section of the tennis fans and media fuming over the growing importance of power in tennis. The drubbing Martina Hingis gave Sharapova in her best come back result yet must have made quite a few people quite happy then.

I remember the emotional Federer after winning Wimbledon last year. He did it again as he embraced Laver after winning the third consecutive grandslam. As BBC reports, he has become the first man since Sampras in 1993 to win three consecutive grand slam titles.

The clay season should be classic this year with Federer, Nadal, Coria among others battling it out. As a Federer fan, I hope this is the year in which he wins his first title at Roland Garros.

Amelie Mauresmo has had to wait for her first grand slam title as CNN reports:

Mauresmo had the second-longest wait for her first major title in the Open era, taking 32 Grand Slam tournaments to win a final — Jana Novotna won Wimbledon in 1998, in her 45th major.

What has to be seen for the future is whether she can reach the No. 1 spot again in her career. That all can wait and the sweetness of success can be enoyed for the moment though.

Marcos Baghdatis had a memorable interview after knocking out Roddick described by my friend Jono here.

Baghdatis’ interview with Courier after the match was hilarious. Courier brought up Baghdatis’ girlfriend Cammy (who is stunning), and Baghdatis refused to answer how long they had been together for. Then Courier asks if Baghdatis will watch Johannson vs. Ljubicic, and he replies saying no he’ll be sleeping. His coach will watch while he sleeps with his girlfriend. Courier’s reaction was gold!

Baghdatis had already conquered Roddick and Ivan Ljubicic. He has now conquered the master of five sets, David Nalbandian, with a 6-4 in the 5th. The Cypriot (yes that is we call people from Cyprus) has been the flavour of the tournament. Not many apart from tennis fans can lay claim to know the name Baghadatis two weeks ago.

In another match which has been reported as top notch, Henin-Hardenne defeated Sharapova to reach the women’s final. She faces Mauresmo who went through after Clijsters had to retire due to injury in the third set.

The Aussie Open has been superb with some brilliant matches despite many top stars withdrawing before the tournament.

When Federer defeated Nikolay Davyadenko in a close match, he ensured a seventh consecutived grandslam semi final. Only Ivan Lendl with 10 has managed more. Nicolas Kiefer won his marathon encounter versus Sebastian Grosjean.

Martina Hingis bowed out to Kim Clijsters Clijsters faces Mauresmo next. The Aussie Open has seen some good matches so far. Hopefully the final stages sees some more exciting stuff.

Any of Kim Clijsters and Amelie Mauresmo can take the top spot from Davenport.

To quote from tennisfans:

Here’s how it goes: Clijsters can take the top spot if she reaches the final or if Lindsay loses before then (all those ranking points to defend, I guess). If Davenport makes the title match, Kim must at least make the quarters. Davenport, can retain the top ranking by reaching the final and having Clijsters lose in the fourth round or earlier. She will also stay No. 1 if she wins the title and Clijsters doesn’t make the final. However, Mauresmo has the most difficult scenario. She must win the title and Clijsters must not advance to the semifinals, regardless of what Davenport does.

Its Pironkova this time. The Williams just can’t handle the ovas. Only difference this time is that Tszvetana Pironkova is from Bulgaria.

And she epitomises the young daring sportsperson:

I have known about Venus for a long time but when I go on court I am a professional so I should not think she was kind of my idol before. After one day I have another match so I don’t think I should celebrate.

Roddick has spoken up against the gruelling tennis schedule. The Australian Open will lack the glamour with top players - Agassi, Hewitt (who withdrew yesterday) and now Safin withdrawing due to injuries.

But will some one listen?

Away from the dirty mess surrounding Indian cricket at the moment, a visit to the Sunfeast Open in the evening provided me some much needed reminder as to why I love sport so much.

I managed to catch the last game of the Shikha Uberoi-Myskina quarter final. Uberoi did well to win 4 games in the first set. It is a tier 3 WTA tournament but Uberoi has the potential to reach top 100 at least. Two Indian women playing in grand slams regularly will be nice.

The Likhotseva match was much closer. The oponent broke back in the second set only to lose it 7-5 in the end. Myskina is looking much stronger and is likely to win the tournament.

Tomorrow Sania Mirza and Pascual pair up in the women’s semis to face Likhotseva-Myskina pairing. Also their is another Indian doubles pair in the other womens semi final doubles. Plus the two singles featuring Myskina and Likhotseva. They are favourites to reach the finals but who can say in sport.

I am going to watch all the action over the weekend.

I watched the full match and was quite impressed by what I saw. I have always been a fan of the Mirza forehand but the back hand was not too bad either in the match. Mirza always hits a lot of winners but I did not expect her to hit so many versus Sharapova. The fact that she could match Shrapova for power, break her, take games into 40/deuce was over whelming as an Indian sport fan.

So how a score line of 6-2/6-1?

The thing called experience. Mirza was horrible on the second serve. She tried to play it safe after a fault and Sharapova would attack the weak second serve. Also, the unforced errors, though much lesser than the previous games, were a bit more that feasible to win games.

This are not huge errors and can be minimised. I definitely think now than Mirza is a top 10 player in the making. Mirza is going to play in the Sunfeast Open in Calcutta from September 19th. I will go ona weekday and on the finals Sunday for the tournament, which promises to be a treat for tennis fans.

We all know it is highly unlikely Mirza will defeat Sharapova today. Sharapova is 18, like Mirza but as far as achievments and accomplishments are concerned, there is a world of difference. Sharapova finished the year in the top 50 in 2003 (rank 32) when she was 15 and a half! Mirza ended 2003 ranked 399.

That is just the beginning of the story. Sharapova has been world number 1, she is a phenomenal player and overpowers her opponents. She has already won a Wimbledon and it would surprise many if she does not go on to win many more grand slam titles. In short, Sharapova is a tennis superstar and has the potential of becoming a legend.

Sania Mirza is a path breaker in her own right. No Indian female tennis player has been competitive at any serious professional level before. They have been stranded in the challengers. This is not related to talent in the country but the lack of infrastructure and financial restraints tennis players in the country face. The fact that there had been no past female tennis player to look upto in the country made it even more difficult for a female tennis star to come up from the country.

In 2005, Mirza, some one who has a superb win-loss record all through her career from the junior level onwards, has a 25-15. Sharapova has a 43-7. Do fans expect Mirza to beat Sharapova? Nah.
But because it is a first in Indian female tennis that a player has reached this far in a grand slam every one will be keyed up.

I have been followed tennis for 13 years from the age of 9 like it has been with most sports and have never seen any Indian reach ahead of round 2 in singles in the grand slams. Leander Paes was talented but too agressive which meant too many unforced errors. I have only heard the tales of the Krishnans and the Amritrajs. Finally there is a tennis player whom we Indian fans can call their own.

By defeating Bartoli in the 3rd round of the US Open, Mirza becomes the first Indian woman to reach the 4th round of the US Open. Just to give an idea of the accomplishment, no Indian woman had appeared in the main draw of a Grand Slam before Mirza in the Australian Open, 2005.

In the US Open, Mirza has made further strides, much faster than many people anticipated. Versus Maria Sharapova in round 4, there is no pressure on the 18 year old. Can Mirza create an upset and defeat Sharapova? She did defeat the defending US Open champion Kuznetsova a few months ago. Very unlikely that Mirza will win versus Sharapova.

One thing is for sure, Indian tennis fans are very happy!

After facing trouble in her 2nd round matchup, news is coming in that Sania Mirza has opted out of the doubles but will play in the 3rd round in singles despite not being fully fit. This is a big concern as she cannot be expected to perform to potential carrying an injury.

I cannot find any news regarding the same on google news or any where else but a TV station was carrying the same.

Here is hoping the doubles lay off will help Mirza recover to put a good performance in Round 3.

Mirza has become the first Indian to reach round 3 of the US Open. Here forehands were exquiite as usual and the strategy of going for winners in windy conditions paid off. One of the trademarks of Mirza is the cool calculated approach she displays on court.

In round 3 she faces Marion Bartiolo. Can she reach the pre quarters now? Whatever happens, Mirza has already done India proud.